CNN LONDON, Jan 10th - Frost lay heavy on the frozen ground of London’s Hyde Park as thousands gathered for the second national rally called to protest the Israeli military action in Gaza. Politicians, activists and celebrities addressed the crowd for an hour from stage; the speeches punctuated with chants of “Shame, shame, Israel” and “Allah Akbar.”

Singer Annie Lennox, noting the massive crowd said from the stage: “I wish we were doing something we could celebrate, but the one thing we can celebrate is that our voices will not be silenced until there is a complete and absolute end to the genocide.” Later a poem dedicated to the children of Gaza was read, with this final line: ”Land is for all- you have the right to be- not dead.”

After the speeches the crowd set off on a route down Bayswater, heading towards the Israeli Embassy. Despite the subzero temperatures and piercing wind, the crowd seemed in good spirits. For a while, we walked beside a group of drummers, beating out a rousing, South American cadence.

Outside the Russian Embassy in Notting Hill, many protesters started hurling sticks and debris- perhaps mistaking the Embassy for that of Israel.

Protest organizers had asked the crowd not to stop in front of the Israeli Embassy as they passed by, as that would cause “their brothers and sisters” behind them to halt, and asked them congragate further down the road instead.

But as the head of the march arrived, it became clear that most protesters would ignore the oraganizers’ request to move on. The crowd swelled, as more and more people stopped in front of the gates of the private road leading to the Embassy.

As the bottleneck grew, the chants intensified. From time to time, fireworks were set off. Shoes and sticks were hurled towards the gate.

My cameraman and I slowly pushed through the crowd where, close to the gates, stood a heavy concentration of adolescent Asian Muslims. The embers of burnt Israeli flags lay on the ground. A large cheer went up as a collection of balloons tied together, trailing the Palestinian flag, went up and over the gates towards the Israeli Embassy, before getting caught in a tree.

After another spell of objects being thrown toward the gates, a line of police with riot helmets and shields headed down on the South side of the barricades.

Then a group of protesters went up to the metal barricades on the opposite side of Kensington Road to the gates, shook them loose, and hurled one through the windows of a Starbucks Coffee shop. Police did not intervene in the melee. A short while afterwards youths jumped in through the broken window to vandalize the interior. The window of a neighbouring clothing store was also smashed, and the furcoat on a mannequin looted.

Police then pushed the crowds back as night fell. We walked further up Kensington Road toward Palace Gate, close the location of the final rally, to find that the large TV monitors were down, and the final rally over.

We did witness a final standoff between a line helmeted police with shieds and a disparate bunch of mostly adolescent protesters, close to the intersection of De Vere Gardens and Kensington Road.. A couple of them walking with wooden poles, apparently torn from large structures. The pieces of wood taller than themselves. With mounted policemen behind them, the police with riot helmets and shields, made a couple of charges to force the protesters back, no contact was made between the two groups. The youthful protesters scampering away before the police advance.

A couple of girls with covered faces sat down theatrically in the middle of Kensington road, chanting Free Free Palestine, and daring the police to attack them. They did not stay sitting long. A final advance of the police force the straggling protesters further down Kensington Road, or around the corner down De Vere Gardens. A couple of the policemen shouted “Its over, go home, keep moving away from here”. Some girls in their early twenties promised to return tomorrow to continue their protest.

I am on this blog too. I am disappointed to see you wishing death on anyone.

Professor

January 11th, 2009 10:50 pm ET

Joan,

I do not wish death to anyone who is not killing someone else.... But, lets get back to where we left off.

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 10:51 pm ET

Right on, too, eh?

Sometimes humor tells it best

This is a difficult subject to make funny, but Jon did a good job, I think

Professor

January 11th, 2009 10:59 pm ET

Jack Fertig – known to many in town as performance artist Sister Boom Boom – who said, "I'm descended from Holocaust victims, and we need to identify with the oppressed, not imitate the oppressors."

Professor

January 11th, 2009 10:59 pm ET

I like that quote from that article AJ...

Hunk

January 11th, 2009 11:00 pm ET

This demonstration is in London but I can its all over the world... that people of all color and all nationalities and faith are saying it load "stop the genocide" .

I said before and still say its a heavy burden more heaver than having the three pyramid on your back to morally side with Israel.

What Israel is doing to itself, as the world reached a common conscious that Jews are on absolute monopoly of the "Victim role" that's now is shifting and adding a momentum to the Palestinians Cause. to this for the 1st time on my life I say thank you (Is no real)

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:00 pm ET

Yeah, there are many, many Jews against this massacre.

Joan

January 11th, 2009 11:01 pm ET

Okay, here's my last post from the other blog.

Professor,

You are stil supporting the idea that people will react to oppression, abuse etc. I can never justify emotional reaction, because that is what it is. And the timespan just makes it even more illogical. They have had years to figure out a response that might produce a positive and realistic outcome.

You cannot control what happens to you. You can only control how you deal with it. That is what defines character, and success in people.

I don’t understand how intelligent people can support the strategy and tactics of the Gazans. They are not working for them. THey keep doing the same thing and it keeps not working. So why are their supporters not trying to help them.

You say you suport them as an oppressed group, and you call yourself a professor. So why don’t you try to help them.

You say you don’t want to tell them what to do. IF you see your friend doing something destructive to himself, don’t you try to help him find another way??

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:02 pm ET

The protests are on both sides, but the anti Israel ones are bigger, HuNk...there, I spelled it right this time!

:)

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:09 pm ET

Joan,
Both sides have made bad choices for 60 years. Both sides could have chosen alternatives.

The Israelis have the upper hand today to choose differently.

The Gazans can choose differently too, yes.

But as a Jew and a human rights supporter, I call upon Israel to take the first step.

With all the weapons they have, they can certainly afford to be the first–and brave–ones to start a TRUE peace process!

Dropping bombs from the air is NOT brave from my perspective.

Hunk

January 11th, 2009 11:16 pm ET

American Jew,

Don t you agree with me that this war is really harming the Jews and is shifting the world opinion all over the world against those very Jew that Israel claim to protract .

The people – think- are eying the Palestinians as oppressed and start realizing their plight and will really look at them favorably from now on? maybe at the account of the Jew.

I new my dear it was a typing error, don't ever think pf saying sorry to me, i already know your true metal – as Arab speak , i will forgive and forget that very moment .

Joan

January 11th, 2009 11:17 pm ET

AJ,

I agree that both sides have made bad choices, and that Israel is the more powerful. However, the Gazans have no control over Israel. They can only control what they do. So telling them that Israel should change doesn't help them (and I agree that Israel should change).

Yes, of course, you could help them by mediating between the two sides. But many have tried and that hasn't worked. So, the Gazans might as well try doing something different themselves.

Joan

January 11th, 2009 11:21 pm ET

Hunk,

Do you really think the Palestinians have world support.? Yes, I'm sure they do for the current humanitarian crisis. But otherwise, I doubt that they have support.

Hunk

January 11th, 2009 11:22 pm ET

Akiva,

Its true those lost on the war will never be indemnified ... it a struggle a man is ready to take if his children will live on peace .... that's how they can be compensated ..... i wish one day even on my life time this will happen. I really don't think so! maybe my children will witness this .

Akiva

January 11th, 2009 11:23 pm ET

hope will never die !!!!!!!!!!

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:27 pm ET

HuNk.
Someone else on the blog kept misspelling your names as HuLk–a Freudian slip, perhaps? I thought it was funny until I did it

:(

Anyhow, yes, the IDF PR war is and will continue to backfire.

There is a worldwide shift happening on many levels–not fast enough for me or them in the region, but it is shifting....

Just remember, folks, just like not all Muslims are terrorists or extremists, neither all all Jews!

Hunk

January 11th, 2009 11:28 pm ET

Joan,

We – myself and other pro life and pro Palestine- can rally support for the cause. support dosnt come by itself.

A right will never die as long as there is a demand er . Arabic Proverb

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:32 pm ET

Joan,
ISRAEL also. Not just the Gazans.

But yes, I do agree that both do need to do things differently...not just one side, both sies! This is not a one-sided conflict.

And, in my opinion, the stronger side is the one that should take the first step.

The weaker side right now is just trying to survive.

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:35 pm ET

Many reasoning, thinking Israelis not near the rockets that can redirect this mess.

Thinking Arabs outside of Gaza–not inside–can direct this, too, yes.

Lynne

January 11th, 2009 11:44 pm ET

Hi all,

Where are we going tonight?

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:45 pm ET

You tell me Lynne!

And hi back!

Lynne

January 11th, 2009 11:49 pm ET

AJ,

Your link to the SF Gate was interesting, to say the least. It's nice to know that there are a whole lot of people that want the killing to stop.

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:52 pm ET

The Jon Stewart site is good to check out, too, Lynne

American Jew

January 11th, 2009 11:57 pm ET

Which site shall it be folks?

Wheel chair Warrior #2–otherwise known as a more moderate voice for humanity–is tired tonight a,nd I just want to stay in one blog...

Lynne

January 11th, 2009 11:58 pm ET

AJ,

I'll make sure I do.

Since I left the "Arab World Watches" blog early, Beny seemed so adamant about defining occupation. What gives with him/her? I can see the passion of belief but...

Anyway, was the question answered? There was just too much hate and insults over there I can't bear to go back.

American Jew

January 12th, 2009 12:01 am ET

I could not stay either Lynne, I dont know.

Beny and Dan are wayyyy to extreme fo me.

They immediately dismiss anyone who does not agree with them, hurling insults and name calling...

Lynne

January 12th, 2009 12:02 am ET

AJ,

I'll do whatever our "gang" decides. I think I saw Rod hanging out on the Despair from Gaza blog, as well as several of ya'll going back & forth.

Conversation is always good (not to mention civil) as long as ya'll are around. Keeps me from getting stressed out and illogical 8)

American Jew

January 12th, 2009 12:03 am ET

When they begin to attack me for being a 'fake' Jew, I just leave.

Their distraction tactics are like the cluster bombs..I run for cover...LOL

American Jew

January 12th, 2009 12:04 am ET

I am with you Lynne

Rod

January 12th, 2009 12:10 am ET

Hey guys I came to tell you I am hanging out in "Tales of Despair in Gaza" and putting some links for you to read and tell me what you think.

American Jew

January 12th, 2009 12:11 am ET

Folks, go to blog before this–we are there

Lynne

January 12th, 2009 12:11 am ET

AJ,

I would be insulted, too, if I was called a 'fake' anything. Like you, I just leave when I'm called an anti-semite. I'm like my huskies, I love everybody!

Now, I didn't carry on any conversation with Dan (I ignored his posts after reading the first one), but I did with Beny. If you present your viewpoint in a nonconfrontational way, Beny will engage in productive conversation. I quite enjoyed the brief exchange. It's just that Beny feels really, really strongly (I don't know, he/she might live in Israel) and is like any other person, wanting to have his/her opinions heard, respected, and considered.

Lynne

January 12th, 2009 12:12 am ET

I'm going to "Despair in Gaza".

Akiva

January 12th, 2009 12:49 am ET

i am away in next blog

mahmoud jboor

January 12th, 2009 12:59 am ET

the numbers of killed children in gaza convince us no peace is possible...may be this is the only result of ( idf ) caword bombing ....since peace conf. in1991 israeli people vote and elected war criminals .....i don,t understand such mentality its going drive them to more suffering.....i am jordanian and as i see numbers of innocent child killing mounting with clock i will never accept peace with israelies !! they made their case clear !!!!!!

Professor

January 12th, 2009 1:12 am ET

Joan,

this is not an emotional reaction.... the Palestinians have tried non-violent way to fight their occupation by they still got shot at by Israeli forces... Families still lost children when the children took on the stones to fight back their oppressors... And when you have the superpower giving a green light to Israel to do as it pleases.... billion of dollars, the latest technology and weapons are given to Israel.... What else do you expect from the Palestinians to do? No matter what they did they got killed anyways.... so they better take some Israeli's with them.... I guess thats what they are thinking.... If you talk to old and young civilian Gazan they tell you they want this fight to continue until they either win their freedom or death... becuase its better than the life they have been living.

Remember who said give me liberty or give me death?

Debs

January 12th, 2009 2:05 am ET

Hello all,

I normaly comment on this blog frequently. This particular subject has been close to my heart for nearly all of my life. I have lived and worked in the ME for a while, I work for the Red Cross has a volunteer.

What we are witnessing in Gaza is a tragedy and all of us need to find a way for a resolution.

Alot of the ME problems are centred around the Palestine and Israel's conflict.

Palestine must have her land, Palestinians need to have a homeland but Palestine desperately needs a change in politics.

Hamas have shown time and time again that they do not care for Palestines people. They use deplorable tactics which injure and kill their people.

Israels government have also harmed the existence of Palestinians and they must show restraint and stop this brutal bombardement of innocent civilians of Gaza and the West Bank.

Palestinians have a proud and vibrant culture which should be allowed to flourish and live as any other human race on this earth
It is a terrible wast and I fear that the Palestinians are on the verge of being forever lost and their homelands forever lost.

Both Israeli's and Palestinians have every right to exist.

From the oldest Israeli who has probably witnessed horryfing events in his life to the youngest Palestinian baby, who's life has just begun and is already at risk from bombs and bullets.

Both sides are human beings caught in a terrible waste of life conflict. We must, and we can do something to help them reach a resolution and end this conflct which has cost so many innocent lives

Israel must recognise that Palestinians have every right their land.

Palestine must also reconise Israels right to exist and have every right to their land

New Yorker

January 12th, 2009 2:11 am ET

There was a large rally in NYC today in support of israel.
Why is it that the treatment of the Palestinians by Syria, Jordan and Egypt is not discussed. Gaza was controlled by Egypt until 1967 and the Palestinians were not treated well. 10,000 were killed in Jourdan in one month. How about outrage about Darfour? Sudan?
Arafat stealing billions? Where is the outrage over the Muslim treatment of other Muslims/ Why does the world only notice when Muslims are killed by Israeli's? gaza was given to the Palestinians and instead of building roads and businesses they started trowing bombs. In fact, every time land was returned to the Palestinians, another uprising started. One million Jews were forced to leave Arab countries and iran and were never compensated. They were re-settled in Israel.

earle,florida

January 12th, 2009 2:30 am ET

Now,do we all feel the spread of " fear's, turpitude",unnecessarily tainting the "Brit's",whom have no say in this medley of deceased minds gone awry! This repulsive umbrage ubiguitous twist of truncated insanity is what incubated the likes of "Hitler,and Stalin",just to name a few, to carry-out their diviate lust for power. But,in today's world ,our very finger can be on the pulse of, "Nuclear Anniihilation",be fore-warned!

racasel

January 12th, 2009 2:44 am ET

Should we ask Israel to let Hamas kill 800 of their citizen so it will be balanced.?.. where were you guys when Hamas were killing Israelites and even their fellow Palestinians? Why were you not saying anyting then?

Nona

January 12th, 2009 3:06 am ET

Right on, New Yorker! Somehow, Israeli self-defense is a "war crime," but Muslim on Muslim murder is acceptable.

There was a huge pro-Israel ralley in Atlanta today too - right in front of CNN headquarters. Will be interesting to see if it even makes their broadcast.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 3:32 am ET

racasel,

Where were the people including you for the last 60 years, when Palestinians were left without home and suffering under a very sever condition just because they want a place under the sun.

The only exit, is to end the "occupation" and recognize the Palestinians right to exist as they have recognized your right to exist.

The Palestinians wanted to renew the ceasefire in return of lifting of the blockade which was enforced for 3 years, why Israel kept the mass punishment regime and caged the Gazans and when Israel break the ceasefire we never hear of any demonstration.

The justification of killing of so much people will never counter an image of a small child crying Mama , Mama .

Enough blood shed and enough justification of the killing of people in what ever name.

Here is a link CNN Confirms Israel Broke Ceasefire First

Why only god knows ....
...

jim

January 12th, 2009 4:13 am ET

only cutting off all aid to israel and all military sales will motivate the zionist to return stolen land. contact your u.s. representatives, senators and the whitehouse (wait till bush leaves) and let em know how you feel. lets take back control of our foreign policy from israel.

blood is red

January 12th, 2009 5:32 am ET

You believe people around world are not blind? Gaza is an Israeli concentration camp.
I see your people; learn well, How to torture but never learn to share with others.
By the way what your people have done for the world?
The Israeli prime minister said. Not any international organization (UN)
Can say to the Israelis what to do or how defend their country,
Then the same apply to other countries to!
Enough with the excuses!
Israelis never wish for, or permitted a self-governing Palestine because when that happened, not any valid excuse for the JEWS to control them! Or stop them breeding.
Palestinian extremist don’t want peace or democratic state, because if people are free to choose then the fanatics be beaten. Fear is always a better tool to control people minds.
Arabs rulers from undemocratic and never elected governments, use the Palestinians to implemented their politics and help the religious fanatics.

racasel

January 12th, 2009 5:36 am ET

Hunk,
why are the injured Hamas criminals and their leaders in the hospital all smiles and happily saying they were martyrs from their injury and bragging that they were hiding in schools and mosque and among houses of law abiding Palestinians to be able to dupe the free world to think that Israel was shooting at civilians. what a bunch of cowards with no balls. Hamas don't understand other peoples right to exist. Israel won the war and took over the land to share with Palestinians who just want everything for themselves in the same way that USA use to be owned by the Indians and now the Indians are living peacefully in mutual coexistence with people from other parts of the world who came to USA. but the indians did not go around killing others like what Hamas is doing.
If Hamas believe strongly that their God will help them, then perhaps their God is letting them lose the war because their God knows that Hamas is not doing the right thing.

racasel

January 12th, 2009 5:52 am ET

if you want to understand muslim, watch this web video.

http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak

miriam

January 12th, 2009 6:05 am ET

All of you who claim that the 'occupation' is the root cause and that Palestinians ever used peaceful means to resolve their differences with Israel , are living in a fantasy world, the same fantasy world where the Arabs who believe that Israel will be destroyed live in.

The root cause is hatred of Jews and the open call for their murder, not just in Israel , but world-wide.This hatred did not begin 40 years ago, 60 years ago or 120 years ago. The Palestinians are pawns who have been manipulated by the larger Arab, Muslim and left-wing communities to perpetuate the hatred and attempt to annihilate world Jewry.

This hatred is openly expressed on this blog and elsewhere, and hopefully it is an opportunatey for law enforcement authorities to deal with those in their communities who preach hate and incite racial violence.

It is as long as attitudes like those expressed above continue to prevail, that peace will be unattainable and the world will continue to be fed lies and be deceived.

JJdT

January 12th, 2009 6:45 am ET

racasel,
Good video! Confirms what I have always believed. All radical Muslims are the enemies of the whole world and should be erased. As Israel has discovered long time ago, it's pointless talking and arguing with them. They have some insane idea that they have the right to kill everyone who doesn't agree with them, but nobody is allowed to touch them.
The world is slowly but surely waking up to the fact that most of our problems are caused by Muslims extremists and that their hand are dripping with the blood of innocent men, women and children.
We must make sure that the world doesn't forget the murder of innocent people in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur, Morocco, Nigeria, Israel, Palestine, USA, UK, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia and many more, by Muslims extremists. Many of these murdered people were Muslims, proving that these Muslim extremists have a total disregard for the right to life of others.

Ashley

January 12th, 2009 7:58 am ET

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6604775898578139565

It is up to us to find out the truth. WATCH THIS and YOU WILL SEE SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. This is TRUTH that no one else will tell you. Judge for yourself !

blood ir red

January 12th, 2009 8:13 am ET

About the Middle East conflict is really bother me. Because I support the underdog, and the one who is weak,
Palestinians are sinking in a sea of misery. And the world just takes a sunbath with pink Israeli sunglasses.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 8:56 am ET

racasel,

You are not of level to make me comment on your nonsense comment, your hatred by itself will burn you and kill you.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 9:00 am ET

racasel,

'Stray mortar' hit UN Gaza school

Israeli defence officials are now saying one of the deadliest recent incidents in Gaza, when a UN school was bombed, was caused by a stray mortar.

The attack killed about 40 Palestinian civilians sheltering at the Fakhura school in Jabaliya on Tuesday.

Initially, Israeli officials accused Hamas of firing from the school and using civilians as "human shields".

The UN has called for an independent investigation and for criminal charges to follow if culpability is discovered.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed "deep dismay" that Fakhura school, and two other UN-run schools in Gaza, had been hit by Israeli fire despite the army having been given precise details of school locations.

Quoted by Haaretz newspaper on Sunday, the army said Hamas militants had fired from near the school – rather than within it – and its troops responded with three mortars.

Two were accurate, the army claimed, but one landed 30 metres off target. It was that mortar that caused the carnage at Fakhura school, the army said.

The statement was made anonymously to the media because the investigation had not yet been made public by the military, Haaretz and news agencies reported.

Read the full story...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7823204.stm

miriam

January 12th, 2009 9:28 am ET

Hunk,

The IDF has denied that report that you believe.

All kinds of rumours and lies are out there and too many of you are quick to believe, and only believe, those that are against Israel.

It is not disputed by any officials that Hamas fired rockets very close to a UN run school. Whether it was within the school, or a few metres away makes no difference.

Hamas is firing from residential neighbourhoods, an undeniable abuse of international law.Not to mention all the other methods they use, all against international law. Right now their leaders are hiding under the main hospital knowing that Israel follows international laws of war and therefore cannot target the hospital from the air.

miriam

January 12th, 2009 9:47 am ET

Ashley, one doesn't need to watch more than a minute of that film to find the mistakes.

Resolution 242 does not say that Israel needs to withdraw immediately.

The withdrawal would be from territory, not all territory.

The Resolution states that it needs to guarantee the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of all Middle East nations. This includes Israel. It does not include 'Palestine' since Palestinians never declared statehood when asked to in 1947.

The Arabs initially rejected the Resolution with neither Jordan, Egypt nor Syria willing to relinquish their control over the territories.

I don't care what the rest of the film shows if it is based on a falsification of facts in the first place.

Ashley

January 12th, 2009 9:48 am ET

I am curious about why no one puts the progressive Jews on T.V. They are the only ones who can speak up for peace with out any backlash.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 9:55 am ET

miriam,

Its not rumors its the BBC, the same channel that brought to the world the like the concentration camp in former Yugoslavia which shocked the world.

In the begining the defeated IDF said they are at the roof top of the school and now you accept that was a big lie and say its was from outside the compound , tomorrow there will be no firing taking place at all.

Will you take the word of a criminal , even cough red handed they will deny all charges, are you insane, the UN spokesperson denied any firing from the school and was made a lair by the IDF and up to now and tomorrow they will keep denying .... this will bring them to the international criminal court for crime against humanity , its a very serious charge, guess who is going to press charge the UN itself.

miriam

January 12th, 2009 10:03 am ET

The IDF never made any such claims.

All they said was that they were investigating and that they were responding to Hamas fire.

They are still investigating and do not release findings until the report is complete.

Anything you hear in the meantime is a rumour or lie and certainly not confirmed.

The UNRWA spokesman also didn't know the facts and relies on information from his men on the ground which includes the Hamas employees of his organization.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 10:09 am ET

You know you are mumbling because its for the Palestinians refugees and some Palestinians are working there that make it less reliable, Mr Ding is a Palestinian.

The IDF is more reliable on this case? do you accept this arguments .... gime a break .

miriam

January 12th, 2009 10:14 am ET

His name is Ging. He is not Palestinian although he most likely wishes he was.

Most of his employees are local Palestinians and hid his predecessor admitted that Hamas members are on the pay-roll, and that wasn't a problem for him.

miriam

January 12th, 2009 10:19 am ET

On second thoughts, perhaps John Ging is a Palestinian.

By definition, of UNRWA, anyone who lived in the British Mandate for two years prior to 1948 was considered a Palestinian, including any migrant worker from Ireland, north or south.

Hunk

January 12th, 2009 10:27 am ET

mariam,

You are so bathetic liar and its really astonishing that you call yourself a worrier, you good to be on AliBaba story hidden on the olive jars among the 40 thieves.

miriam

January 12th, 2009 10:32 am ET

Hunk.

You think you can change the truth just as easily as you can change my name.

oferdesade

January 12th, 2009 2:31 pm ET

http://img531.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hamasandpa6604326kn2.flv

Adeel Afzal

January 12th, 2009 5:56 pm ET

the so called the champin of democracy are allowing the israel to kill the innocent children if it is democracy than it is a slap on the face of democratic world

Isaac

January 12th, 2009 5:59 pm ET

12 January 2009
Mr. Barack H. Obama
President-elect of the United States of America

Dear Mr. President-Elect

Letter of Protest if the Invasion of Israel in Gaza

As one of many students in Malaysia and a member of the inhabitants of the world, I deplore the violence of Israel in the Gaza strip in retaliation for the terrorist attacks on Israeli soil by Hamas from end of December 2008 and the beginning of January 2009. I do not wish to lay blame on any side of the conflict but recent events have led me to rise up my protest against it.

While there is no doubt that the senseless attacks of Hamas provoked the following events that occurred, it does not give a valid reason for the Israeli government to launch Operation Cast Lead on 27 December 2008. Their press-reported intentions were to target members and infrastructure of Hamas. Yet as of 12 January 2009, Israeli causalities are numbered at 3 soldiers while the other 500 people were respected UN workers, diligent medical staffs, weak elderly people, women and innocent children that are yearning to grow up just like your two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha. Not to mention the thousands left wounded, traumatised, paralysed and left homeless.

This kind of collective punishment carried out by Israeli forces only fuels the flames of hatred which underlie these conflicts. It is also irresponsible, unethical, a violation of international law itself, and of dubious value in defending the US against terrorism. I urged you to act quickly and accordingly.

I am fully aware that the situation is very delicate and complicated to handle, especially it has plagued the past Presidents of the United States of America. It involves vast regions, major religions and extreme ideologies. There will always be extremists and foolish people around to cause havoc. Though it is difficult but it is not impossible. It takes a great leader to bring CHANGE. Change was your motto. Change was your slogan. Change was the shout you brought forth in the multitude. Isn’t it time for change in the Mideast? Isn’t time for peace? Have the world not seen and heard enough?

Though unlikely it may seem, but imagine if your two beloved daughters were to be in the shoes of the Palestinians children, as they run for cover in their schools, homes or whatever that was used to be the two. Not knowing when will be their next or final meal. Not knowing what tomorrow holds. Don’t the pictures of dying children in Gaza raise pity from your heart? Don’t the cries of their voices once they were bombed cause tears to flow from your eyes? If the very hollows of your heart even ripple the slightest, then please, by the grace of the Heavenly Father, act now.

History tells us that there are no gains on both sides in the act of war, no matter if it was the World Wars, in Vietnam, in Korea, in Afghanistan, in Iraq or in any part of the universe. There is only loss. I call on the president-elect and Congress to stay the hand of Israeli forces in the interests of justice, peace, and stability, and to reestablish peace talks immediately.

I urge all parts to read and ponder Mr. John Godfrey Saxe writing, an.
American who based his poem, on a fable that was told in India many years ago.
http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/1/?letter=B&spage=3
I quote from the site: "....It is a good warning about how our sensory perceptions can lead to some serious misinterpretations; especially when the investigations of the component parts of a whole, and their relations in making up the whole, are inadequate and lack co-ordination."
As far as i belive the truth lies in the middle, nobody is ever 100% right or wrong.
If the conflict has been lingering for the past 50 odd years it is because there is a lack of listening, not hearing of each other.
For what i hear on the network and read every body has an opinion, usually wrong.....!?

racasel

January 12th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

Watch this video and understand the muslims. with english sub-title.

http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ai=214&ar=1050wmv&ak

Ken

January 12th, 2009 10:05 pm ET

When will the U.S. wake up and put Israel where by objective criteria it belongs: Its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Israel has ignored U.N. Resolution after resolution regarding its borders, withdrawing from occupied territories and building settlements going back to 1948. Starting as early as 1948 Israeli leadership rejected the idea of two states notwithstanding U.N. resolutions calling for two states. Perhaps if the U.N. and U.S. imposed effective harsh sanctions on Israel to bring about the two state solution called for by U.N. resolutions going back to as early as 1948, Hamas would step away from ineffective terror tactics.

Eliot

January 12th, 2009 10:43 pm ET

Hamas wants to eliminate Israel.
Israel wants to be left alone in peace.
Israel gave up Gaza to the Palestinians.
They elected Hamas to represent them.
Hamas rocketed Israel incessantly over the last several years.
For how long can anyone be asked to just turn the other cheek?
Innocents are dying on both sides.
That is tragic but will continue until Hamas changes it's charter and accepts the reality that Israel is here to stay.
Why is Gaza is "Judenrein" (without Jews). Israel has Arab citizens who have the right to vote and have a superior quality of life than their Palestinian brothers.
The inequities of the respective civilizations treatment of one another is blatantly obvious.
Israel has the right to exercise self defense which is what it is doing currently. To pinpoint terrorists who hide among civilians is an impossibility. Perhaps they are somewhat to blame?

Parenthetically there was a large rally in Long Island as well supporting Israeli operations in Gaza. The tenor of that rally as always is the sanctitiy of life and peace not the honor of being a shahid or a suicide bomber.

Barbara Kelly

January 12th, 2009 11:37 pm ET

Your poll numbers are alarming! I support Israel's right to defend itself.

jim

January 13th, 2009 3:22 am ET

i have talked to many isralis and its unanamous as if rehersed in grade school. israli jews believe all of israel is theres by proficy. all palestinians should be relocated to jordan or killed. as for israel a democracy. why is it that just yesterday israel decertified arab israli political parties in the upcoming election. thats like republicans decertifieing the democrates. israel is a facist state and deserves any and all military action used against it.

jim

January 13th, 2009 3:24 am ET

gee , eliot. a rally supporting israel in long island. isnt that a little like a catholic procession in rome.

Tony Pate

January 13th, 2009 4:08 am ET

I could not believe the length of which Israels control of US admin and Bush read below.

....Olmert said Bush's agreement "embarrassed" Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice because the resolution was one that she had "cooked up, she organized, she formulated, she maneuvered," according to comments reported by Israel Radio.

"And she was left pretty embarrassed, abstaining on a draft resolution she organized herself," Olmert added.

What should we the American citizen make of this. How will this be handled by Bush administration. Israeli government totally dictates US Middle East policy to their likings coming directly by Israeli PM. WOW this is tough to swallow by the Bush officials to "Shame" one of their own....Condi.

Steve Canada

January 13th, 2009 6:14 am ET

Annie Lennox?

Apparently she doesn't care to end her career early!

She has not once said anything of Hamas rockets to stop

We must boycott anything associated with Annie Lennox!

Her one sided protesting is disgusting she is not for peace
She's an antisemite !!

Steve Canada

January 13th, 2009 6:17 am ET

What a nerve these Palestinians!

The Arabs in 1967 try to invade Israeli instead they were defeated
and lost some of their territory!

Wimps is what they are, be real men and accept defeat!

You want the land back, too bad next time you'll know better than to start with Israel!!!

Ashley

January 13th, 2009 8:40 am ET

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6604775898578139565

PLEASW WATCH & stop the racist comments – if we called the Jewish people the same things that would be anti-semitic. BE NICE! This is not debate (=)

Gilad

January 13th, 2009 9:15 am ET

Hunk,

"The only exit, is to end the “occupation” and recognize the Palestinians right to exist as they have recognized your right to exist."

Really? The Palestinians recognize our right to exist? How is that so when they choose a government that has, as a major part of its doctrine, set a purpose to destroy each and every Jew in the world and to eliminate the state of Israel?

--–

Ken,

"Starting as early as 1948 Israeli leadership rejected the idea of two states notwithstanding U.N. resolutions calling for two states. Perhaps if the U.N. and U.S. imposed effective harsh sanctions on Israel to bring about the two state solution called for by U.N. resolutions going back to as early as 1948, Hamas would step away from ineffective terror tactics."

You are quite misinformed. In 1948, the Israeli government was the one who had agreed to the two state resolution. The day after the resolution had been accepted at the UN, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon had waged an all out war on the newly created state of Israel in order to destroy it. They were the ones who did not accept the UN decision – not the Israelis. But hey, they're allowed to, right?

--–

Jim,

"i have talked to many isralis and its unanamous as if rehersed in grade school. israli jews believe all of israel is theres by proficy. all palestinians should be relocated to jordan or killed. as for israel a democracy. why is it that just yesterday israel decertified arab israli political parties in the upcoming election. thats like republicans decertifieing the democrates. israel is a facist state and deserves any and all military action used against it."

Who have you been talking to? 15 Years old high-schoolers? Of course they're going to tell you that. Try talking to someone a little bit older and intellectually mature.

i am Israeli myself and I agree that the only solution is for the Palestinians to have an independant country of their own. I don't agree with the decertification of Arab parties on the upcoming election (it will probably be turned down by the high court), however as per the definition of "Defending Democracy", a party which in it's agenda does not recognize my country's right to exist and supports organizations which have in their agenda the purpose to destroy my country and kill each and every last citizen in it, that party is not legible to run to the election or to be a political party.

Gilad

January 13th, 2009 9:20 am ET

Oh, and I wonder why there are no reports here of the Israeli side?

How come it is not mentioned when a Grad missiles directly hits a house in Ashkelon? (see: yesterday)

How come it is not shown when another Grad missiles hits a fully populated elders' home?

Why is it not told that over 1,000,000 Israeli citizens are constantly grounded to underground shelters?

And how is it not reported that an Israeli soldier dies because he entered a fully booby-trapped civilian house?

One must wonder!

wakeupcall

January 13th, 2009 2:31 pm ET

The international community should be condemning and protesting Hamas. Hamas, Taliban, Hezbollah, Al Qaeda and Iran are extreme fundamental Islamists wanting to impose their beliefs on infidels and turn countries into fundamentalist Islamic theocracies using the conquest of Israel as a stepping stone. Israel is not fighting the Palestinians just like the USA and its allies are not fighting the Iraqi’s or the people of Afghanistan. These Islamic groups use women and children as suicide bombers to blow up fellow Arabs in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Gaza they calculated to sacrifice fellow Palestinians for the cause by attacking Israel with rockets knowing Israel will have to respond then use women and children as human shields. A Hamas leader used his son as a suicide bomber. The world is being manipulated and duped to support Hamas. This is part of their campaign to turn world opinion against Israel and America.

rr

January 13th, 2009 7:27 pm ET

hey wakeupcall, ure a zionist? yes well only a heartless person will support this.i dislike killing of any forms even animals.so get this u israel fan the world is not stupid,israel played enough mind games.if we are being manipulated why don't israel allow foreign journalists inside? maybe because even the journalists will speak of the death and destruction? i've seen pictures of babies and you can't even see thier face, it's burnt out. if this was your child? what goes around comes around...but i hope not i shall pray for you all to see your wicked ways and repent.....

avalanchemike

January 13th, 2009 9:28 pm ET

Its amazing how quick people are to condemn Isreal. What they are saying is that, if rockets were fired into the US, we should just sit back and do nothing. If you want to know the TRUTH about what is happening, hop on a plane and fly to the middle east, but wait, Im sure you would rather place blame from thousands of miles away from the security of your own home while cracking open a beer and watching the news.

Tal

January 14th, 2009 2:56 am ET

From another Jew – this is why Jon Stuart is off base. Hamas is shooting missiles at Israel for 8 years. They withdraw from Gaza and let the Arabs be on a path for peace. Israel cannot have a million people live under the threat of day to day bombing. Enough with this. Hamas, as the elected party of Gazan, declared a war to the death. Well, they got it. Enjoy the fruits of it. Gazan will die until Hamas stop any fire. Nothing else is acceptable. And by the way bombing does stop wars – look under Japan, 1945.

neutral

January 14th, 2009 5:24 am ET

Why USA does not invade Israel to protect extermination people in Palestine. Israel can cause third world war.

kapil sharma

January 14th, 2009 9:35 am ET

the international media is too baised towards israel for the sake of TRPs.the offensive is provoked by hamas.one canont allow terrorist organisation to prosper and fire rockets at itself from its own nieghbourhood.the geographical location for israel makes it mandatory for it to be like this.

sema

January 14th, 2009 2:40 pm ET

It has really all come down to this question. Does the Jewish and American government even see the Palestinian people in the same way they see themselves, as human beings? where's the humanity?

Egyptian Nancy

January 14th, 2009 4:45 pm ET

Many of the younger generation does not realise that before 1948 there was an Arab country called Palestine, which in many periods of its history was occupied by different foreign powers, i.e. the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire. In 1917, an English politician Mr Balfour promised part of the land of Palestine to the Jews of the world. Thus giving a gift of something he did not own to a third party....!? Something unthinkable and unprecedented in human history.
Anyway, since then and during the period of its creation in 1948 until the present, I would like to give you an idea of the atrocities this country did to the natives of this land Palestine:
From 1938 to 1947, Israelis killed not less than 300 Palestinians in Jaffa and Jerusalem.
In 1948, Israel started to occupy a number of villages after exterminating its inhabitants: 100 killed in Jaffa, 70 in Safad, 60 were buried alive in Abu shusha, 50 in Tantura, hundreds in the massacres of El Ramla, 52 killed handcuffed while 7 girls were raped then killed in Sifsaf. But the worst of all was the massacre of Deir Yassin, where 254 people were killed.
From 1953 to 1955, 67 were massacred in Qubaya, 29 in Gaza.
One of the most horrible carnage was the one in Khan Younis where 850 palestinians were killed.
In 1967, 300 people were killed in Jerusalem
In 1982, 3500 Palestinians were killed in Sabra and Shatila immigrant camps in Beirut.
In 1994, 29 Palestinians were killed in Hebron while performing their prayer in a mosque.
From 2001 to 2004, not less than 500 people were killed in Jenin and Balata camps, Nablus, Gaza,etc...
All this happened before the existence of this evil, naughty group called Hamas.
What's happening today, when we have 996 ( soon over a thousand) killed and thousands injured, don't we ask ourselves who are the terrorists.....?????

leon

January 14th, 2009 5:07 pm ET

In answer to your question Sema, the answer in "no".
And that is a great tragedy.

Israel needs to protect itself. I get it. But to go in and pound the cities and non combatants...thats murder.

Peter

January 14th, 2009 6:47 pm ET

I would really like to know what hamas has achieved, beside misery, desruction and death to innocent people. The are now talking about a 10 day truth. I am sorry, but can the really be trusted. As sad as all of this is, i still believe to go after the hamas leadership and hamas fighters until there is no one left, even is Israel has to eliminate them in Bunkers and other countries. Let's face it, the world governments are sitting back and hope that hamas will be wiped out, including arab states. There is no room for terrorist.

Ima

January 15th, 2009 4:29 am ET

For good God's sake! Innocent children, women, and men are being killed or wounded, mostly on the Palestinian side in this recent outbreak of cruelty.

How about we all go to view pictures of our little and lovely planet taken from space to get some perspective?

Live and let live, for humanity's sake! Stop attacking each other and let the rest of us live in peace also. Why are YOUR wars OUR problem?

Palastinian from USA

January 15th, 2009 4:34 am ET

A hamas member or Palestinian is one thing. Israel fights with hamas because It wants to get Palestinian land . For Israel every Palestinian is a hamas member because they want stop Israel from stilling Palestine's land and get back from Israel what has been already stolen . Calling hamas members terrorists Israel tries to get excuse to get rid of Palestinians. Hamas wants their land back witch has already been occupied by Israel in a large part. Through years international law and organization have not been able to stop Israel from stilling Palestinians land . Palestiniens need a lot of weapon and fight for their freedom nobody else will have done anything for them,other way it is only a fast or slow way of been killed as a terrorist by Israel . That time Israel gets all what has been left from Palestine.

Palestinian lover

January 15th, 2009 6:11 am ET

Peter , Palestinians have had misery, destruction and death to innocent people since Israel was created on Palestine land. Hamas has been a result of Israel occupation of Palestine. Palestinian need a lot of weapons to fight for their freedom or be killed under pretexts of terrorists, hamas or something else. It is very bad that Jews learnt so match from Adolf Hitler and nobody wants to stop them. That is how world war II broke out , nobody wanted to stop Adolf Hitler until was to late. Adolf did not have nuclear weapon , Jews do have it.

Stop it

January 15th, 2009 8:51 pm ET

I am terribly sorry but this is really getting on my nerves!
If you follow the news it seem that Palestine is a lovely place, filled only with innocent children and civilians who sit all day and pray for world peace and never do anything but pure good.
So maybe someone can help me out...isn't HAMAS a terrorist organization? aren't they constantly sending rockets into Israel? Dozens of them on daily basis?
and if they are all so good and fluffy shoudn't they stop with the rockets? the West bank is doing great and it just so happens that they are not governed by HAMAS...
I suggest that all those who complane about the "unprovoked" military action come to live in Sderot for a month or two...
We'll talk then

Monica

January 16th, 2009 5:24 pm ET

CNN (paticularly Ben Wedeman) are totally biased in their reporting. Where is the story & pictures of the people wounded today in Israel by the Hamas rockets??? Is there even a mention of it?? Where are the reports from Sderot-a town where most of the children suffer from post traumatic stress syndrome???? Ther Gazans have suffered through the bombings for 3 weeks-the Israelis have suffered through them for 8 years!!!! Try to imagine the psychological toll that would take on someone-particularly a child. Better yet-try to report on it!!!

Monica

January 16th, 2009 7:34 pm ET

please people-educate yourselves-get the facts:

Prior to the defensive action Israeli officials were vocal and unified in stating their lack of desire to go to war against Hamas and explaining that they were forced to do so to protect their citizens from Hamas’ constant rocket, mortar and missile attacks.

Two days before Israel finally took action, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a final plea to Gaza residents: “You the citizens of Gaza, you can stop it,” Olmert said in a televised interview on the Arabic TV network al-Arabiya. “I know how much you want to get up in the morning to quiet, to take your children to kindergarten or school, the way we do, the way they want to in Sderot and Netivot…

“We want to live as good neighbors with Gaza,” Olmert said. “We do not want to harm you. We will not allow a humanitarian crisis and that you should suffer from a lack of food or medicines. We do not want to fight the Palestinian people but we will not allow Hamas to strike our children.” [5]

During the past year, Iran-backed terrorist groups in Gaza have fired more than 3,200 rockets, missiles and mortars at Israeli civilians in the southern Negev region, [6] killing four people and wounding more than 270. [7]

Since Israel gave up all of Gaza in 2005 – relinquishing homes, farms, places of business and worship – terrorists have launched more than 6,300 rockets and mortars into Israel from Gaza. The attacks have killed 10 civilians, wounded more than 780 and traumatized thousands of others. [8] The only remaining Israeli in Gaza is Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit who was abducted from Israel on June 25, 2006 by Hamas in a bloody cross-border raid in which the terrorists killed two IDF soldiers and wounded four others. [9]

During a visit five months ago to the southern Israeli city of Sderot, then-candidate and now President-elect Barack Obama defended Israel’s right to protect itself from such attacks: "If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do everything to stop that, and would expect Israel to do the same thing." [10]

In addition to firing rockets and mortars, terrorists have smuggled vast amounts of war materiel into Gaza. Israeli Minister for Public Security Avi Dichter said that in July 2008 alone, more than four tons of explosives were smuggled into Gaza via tunnels dug by terrorists under the Egypt-Gaza border. There are 400-600 smuggling tunnels running along Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor, the strip of land spanning the border between Egypt and Gaza. [11]

Iran, one of the chief sponsors of Palestinian terrorism, provides approximately $20 million to $30 million to Hamas annually and also trains Hamas operatives in Iran and Syria. [12] Approximately 950 Hamas terrorists have been trained in building rockets and bombs, tactical warfare, weapons operation and sniper tactics by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, a special division of Iran’s armed forces. [13]

Throughout the operation, Israel has gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties, ranging from issuing warnings to residents to leave homes and buildings being used as weapons storage before the IDF carried out strikes.

Hamas, on the other hand, has gone out of its way to maximize civilian fatalities and injuries by placing children and other civilians in the line of fire. [14]

An Israeli-Arab weekly newspaper article last week told the story of a child describing being used by Hamas as scouts, couriers and other support roles. "We the children, in small groups and in civilian clothes, are fulfilling missions of support for the [Hamas] Resistance fighters, by transmitting messages about the movements of the enemy forces, or by bringing them ammunition and food,” the child said. “We ourselves are not aware of the movements of the Resistance fighters. We see them in one place, they suddenly disappear, and then reappear somewhere else. They are like ghosts, it is very hard to find them or hurt them.” [15]

An in-depth study released this month by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC), "Hamas Exploitation of Civilians as Human Shields,” shows Hamas’ current and past use of children and other civilians as human shields, such as by firing rockets at Israel from densely populated residential areas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also provided documented evidence through photos and videos, of Palestinian children being used as human shields in March 2008. Before attacking buildings Hamas terrorists used manufacture rockets, the IDF – to avoid civilian casualties – sent warnings to Palestinians in Gaza to leave the facilities; Hamas would then call on children and other civilians into and around the buildings. [16] Such incidents have been documented by Hamas’ own media. View clip 1; View clip 2

At the same time, many Palestinian casualties were caused by Hamas members killing rival moderate Fatah members. Dozens of Palestinians were intentionally killed by Hamas itself. [17]

Hamas also has continued to fire rockets during the temporary humanitarian ceasefire imposed daily to allow a free flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. [18] Nevertheless, Israel has continued to facilitate daily deliveries of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Since the start of the operation through Jan. 15, the aid and other efforts include:

• About 29,112 tons of humanitarian supplies delivered in 1,202 trucks.
• About 379,443 gallons of fuel delivered.
• 449 dual nationals were evacuated from Gaza.
• 3,000 units of blood were donated by Jordan.
• 5 ambulances donated by Turkey.
• 5 ambulances transferred from the West Bank on behalf of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
• 34 people evacuated to Israel for medical needs, including two injured children. [19]

The Defense Ministry has begun to operate a live feed of the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing into Gaza throughout the hours of the terminal's operation. It includes three cameras showing the points of access and exit of the terminal. [20]

leon

January 16th, 2009 8:01 pm ET

A lot of what you say may be true, or perhaps just some of it, we may never know for sure. But at the end of the day, and I think must people would agree.

When you turn on your tv and they're talking about this conflict, what do you see a lot of. As far as Israel is concerned. F-16's, Cobra and Apache choppers, a few M-16s and Ive even seen Bradleys. "ALL", american made.

Saw a picture of a boy, maybe 14 or so, being helped by a man. This boy was in obvious pain as his left leg had been blown off below the knee. I pray it was not done by something "made in the U.S.A.".

And I think that all has a lot to do with this. Israel is most difintely coming off this as the bully and bad guy. How long are they going to pound on a people who have no planes, tanks, choppers?

And the stat's above are not impressive, especially when that medical aid doesnt get thru.

leon

January 16th, 2009 8:09 pm ET

And by the way, the comments made by "Palastinian from USA".That made the most sense of any comments Ive read here.

Momoh

January 16th, 2009 9:39 pm ET

No innocent killing is justified. No human at present can create a human so why kill one, peace is all we ask for, Let peace reign please both parties.
For the reporters faulse report is as good as murder as it can cause the death of the innocent. Report what is right and stop creating negative images, let peace reign let peace reign PLEASE!!!.

nina

January 17th, 2009 2:03 am ET

Israelies who support the actions of their government need to go beyond the propaganda fed to them by their government and seek the truth. The world is in an uproar because of the obvious human rights violations and killings of hundreds of innocent people. how many israeli's have been killed in the past 8 years? does israel have to the right to kill over one thousand people primarily woman and children because it is ' trying to defend itself.' i ask you have you been to gaza? it is a virtual prison with the sky as its sealing and one of the most densely populated areas on this planet. it has been a place of suffering and misery since the creatiion of the state of israel - over 50 years. thank God for the internet so the world can obtain it's information from so many sources other than the main stream media that has been influenced from those like 'monica' and the israeli propaganda machine. finally the voices of the palestinian people who have been the victims of israel since its creation can be heard!

John puzellfree

January 17th, 2009 2:19 am ET

Egyptian Nancy
" Many of the younger generations does not realise that before 1948 there was an Arab country called Palestine,"

Nancy, there was no Arab country call Palestine.
Please read the real history before Islam expansion.
The land was Israel Kingdom with Jerusalem its capital under king David or in Quran, he was nabi Daud follow by his Son Salomon Quran version as nabi Suleiman who built the Jewish temple (Salomon Temple)
Then the Roman pagans occupied it and in 70 AD they destroy Jerusalem to the ground include the temple because of the Jewish rebelled against them.
Many Jews were scatter to neighboring land included Arabian peninsula when Islam did not exist yet. But many still stay in their land.
Then when the roman became Christians the land was under Roman empire control. The inhabitant was mixed Jews Christians hence they build Churches.
Then after muhammad died. Islam expansion outside Arabia began.
They took Christians and Jewish land, on the ground of Muhamm claim having been to Jerusalem during his night trip (Isra Miraj)and went to heaven from the imaginary Mosque/Masjid in Jerusalem call Aqsa. The Mosque that was not existed yet. Because there were no Arab Muslims there yet.
With Arabs expansion so came the Arabs to live in the land.
When Arab ruler lost to Turks Muslims Ottoman took over the land and became a desolate land.
The fall of Ottoman empire signalled the demised of islam world, they were defeated by the European and occupied the land. The British control most Middle east land included the land of Israel. The the British empire carved the Middle east land into what became the Middle East Countries as we know now.
My point is there was no country call Palestine. Palestine nation was born or invented by Yaseer Arafat after 1967 war where Combine Arabs armies were defeated by Israel in just 6 days..
The land of Palestine was originally named by the Romans before they became Christians.
Howeveroriginally, the land was call Juda the Kingdoms of Israel.
If Muslims denied this, then they must deny the Quran too which mentions many Jews prophets, kings and name call bani Israel/Yahud land.
The problem with Muslims is that they always twisted history.

John puzellfree

January 17th, 2009 2:27 am ET

Nina.
The tragedy which happen in Gaza, is what Hamas want to deceived you and the world to get what they want.
They don't care about the Gazan Palestinians.
Just look, after they want the election and the Israel withdrew from Gaza completely, They started the terror against their own "brother" They kill the fatah and anyone who disagree with them.

Surely if they care about the Palestinian, they will stop the pathetic idiot action of firing rockets to Israel.
Do you think they will win against Israel??
Think ! while Palestinian suffered, they hide in tunnels and their leader are safe in Lebanon and Syria talking about rubish victory.

Efren Bano

January 17th, 2009 6:23 am ET

the media and is so bias, (including CNN). They only show picture about the bombing victims in Gaza.... but what about those pictures about Palestinian children being trained by Hamas to handle weapons like an army of children? It doesn't mean that they are children they are not harmful... yes they are and they had been indoctrinated to hate other religious groups especially Jews and Christians. They are the future terrorists, therefore they deserved to be bombed and annihilated.

Hunk

January 17th, 2009 8:03 am ET

John puzellfree,

The name Palestine is as new as the name of Israel ... what if we call it the Canaanite state ... the Canaanite Arabs who lived there 2,500 years before Christ, and if God given the land to Abraham sons then we are Abraham sons too.

The Jews who were living there were Arabs and not Israelis or this is a fact you will ignore among other facts.

Your whole claim is based on a biblical theory but you even refuse to consider Ishmael as the son of Abraham because he is from a different mother against the very book you base your claim on .

If the holy Quran speaks of the Jews, let e remind you that the people who were saved from the pharaohs were not more 70 people and again the refused the order from Moses PBUH to enter the holy land because of the fear from the Arab Canaanite who were there and as a result were punished and sent wondering in Sinai dessert for 2000 years.

You lost your right and denied Prophet Moses PBUH to set a foot inside the Holy land .... how dare you speak on his name ....

David Freeman

January 17th, 2009 9:37 am ET

John puzellfree

You must be the arithmetic man - you add trouble, subtract occupation, divide attention, and multiply ignorance.

pray for peace

January 17th, 2009 2:53 pm ET

shame on the world leaders shame on the bush admin.shame on all who support savagely murdering civilians and children sadly most of the Israeli army weapons ,plains and missiles are given by us to the Jewish state guns and missiles and savage chemical bombs that are aimed to kill innocent civilians what happened to this world if this is happened any where else in the world we will jump and send help and troops how can we allow this to happen I am sad to see all these children and women and civilians getting savagely killed by our weapons , where is justice in this world , is this where our tax money goes to ....our hands are stained in innocent civilian blood we pray for peace and justice

fiction

January 17th, 2009 10:19 pm ET

The UN, USA democracy freeing other nations like Iraq , former Yugoslavia, Russia its a big bal.... Everything is about domination one over an other. The politicians should be killed in Israel, UN , USA, for allowing innocent people to be killed. Common people can not do anything , if they try they are announced terrorists, criminals . RUSSIA COME BACK TO POWER make balance in a world, help Palestine . I always thought the east was bad, now I see the truth. Go the hell western democracy!!!!!! I wounder where is our Catholic Church position on that issue. Palestinian are murdered, do they life mean nothing to everybody??????

leon

January 18th, 2009 3:13 am ET

Israel, Surrounded by counties that don't like it. In "my"opinion, the most illogical country on the earth. Now don't get me wrong, I have "nothing" against the Israeli people. I don't. Ive listened to people talk and have read statements from folks on blogs like this one.To that argument, that Israeli's are constantly running for cover from rockets over the past few years, my response is this.

Leave. Move your family to Europe. Come to the U.S. Anywhere is better than where you are.

And I agree, thanks to the internet, more information is available to us, then in anytime in history. And because of which, we can draw our own personal opinion. And I have finally drawn mine.

There is a Palestinian doctor, who treats Israeli's injured in this conflict. The purpose of which is to show that working together is possible.How was his humanity treated? His own children where killed by Israeli fire.

That pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Israel hasn't learned what we already know here.Even with the America arsenal you the have in that country.

How can you fight and win against a people that fight with very few weapons.

A people that "will" use their own children to fight???

It is my conclusion that Israel is not capable of governing itself. The U.N.(god help us), should interject an interim government until such time as something more permanent can be arranged.

Good thing I'm not the President.

annoyed jewish girl

January 18th, 2009 8:46 am ET

You all seem to be hateful people with way too much free time.

Isreal Lover

January 18th, 2009 5:33 pm ET

To All Narrow minded Left Thinking Peace Lovers:

Quit being so deluded, biased, while believing in an idealistic concept. Cry about all the other real humanitarian crises ongoing right now in the world just as much as you do about the Palestinians who have been the biggest recipients of international aid in history ($1.7 billion in 2008 alone).

What gives Islamic Iran, Hamas, Hizbullah, Palestinians, all other Arab states the right to say that Isreal has no right to exist ? May I remind you that Egypt, Syria, Jordan, etc. were states carved out of the fall of the Ottoman Empire just as Isreal was in 1948/49 after WWII. Most of these ME countries do not support human rights, do not give demorcratic rights to their own people. Hamas sure as hell doesn't!

Give me your solution when some terrorist(s) out of Iran arrives in European city with a suitcase containing a nuclear explosive in a few years threatening to blow up the city if certain demands are not met, namely Isreal must be taken off the map? Don't think it's coming ... talk to me again in five years. I said in 02/03 that Iran was going to start shaking it's nuclear fist in a few years. Well, 2009 has arrived and what is it doing? "We must not give up on peace" H. Clinton says but how do we get there? Not through radical Islamic groups like Hamas that's for sure. Isreal has offered and demonstrated peace over and over again, but no takers yet?? Why??

After 8 years of being attacked, it has decided to defend itself as any other rational country does or would do? The UN is useless by the way.

Egyptian Nancy

January 18th, 2009 7:59 pm ET

John Puzellfree
What can you say to someone who claims that Palestine was a word invented by Yasser Arafat ?!!!!!. I think Hunk gave you a perfect answer and David Freeman said it all. Thanks to both of them.

Stop it!

January 18th, 2009 8:39 pm ET

The only problem Israel has it's that it listens to all the "know-it-alls" from the west. I don't hear about what is going on in Afganistan or Iraq? there are no cries about the human rights there. why? because it's not about human rights! face it...no one actually cares about that! it all against Israel...if it was France or UK or Germany no one would care because then it's justified...
all of the "peacefull people" are two faced liers.
if it helps you sleep better....
also do you actually know hoe big the big bad Israel actually is?
and really the wholproblem here is that Israel aims better...I am sure that if the same casualties were on the Israeli side no one would say a word.
So just stop it!

Do not stop it

January 19th, 2009 7:16 am ET

Hi
who ever you are. Where did you see such mass murder of civilian (children, women and old people) as Israel has comited for about three weeks by UK, or USA ? You can only compare Israel action to NAZI in world war 2. Those NAZI criminals ware captured and justice were served by USA, UK, RUSSIA, and ISRAEL. Now is turn to capture and serve justice to Israel's ware criminals.

Dennis Junior

January 27th, 2009 4:33 am ET

Why, are people protesting in London....Regarding the policies of Israeli Military because they are doing something to protect the Israeli people and society...

amr diab

January 30th, 2009 4:52 pm ET

why the war...we should just keep singing till we die!

Will

January 31st, 2009 4:03 am ET

Wow. What a fantasy world you terrorists live in. You murder innocents, fire literally thousands of rockets into Israel, then you act like the injured party when Israel defends itself. The blame is yours. You allowed Hamas to take over Gaza. You allowed Jordan to take your land. You encourage your youth to kill themselves and innocents through homocide bombers.
And you seem to forget that it was the mighty united Arab army that attacked Israel – and got its ass kicked by Israel – that brought Israel into Gaza. Israel has given you way too many chances. They left Gaza on a promise of peace. You don't want peace so you will get what you deserve.

Welcome to the Inside the Middle East blog where CNN's journalists post news, views and video from across the region. This is also a place where you can start the discussion so please keep your comments coming. We highlight not only current news stories but also anecdotes and issues that don't always make the top of the headlines.